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Wednesday, March 6, 2013

W.I.P.

I was listening to a lecture from QuiltCon by Mary Fons, when she mentioned that Home Economics is no longer offered in schools today. She went on to say that today's new quilters often don't even have the basic sewing skills that those from my generation take for granted.

My grandmother started teaching me to sew when I was five years old. She helped me make a little pair of shorts and a top one summer. In turn, I taught my daughter to sew when she was young, and though she didn't utilize the skill for years, these days she is my quilting buddy.

Now it is her five year old daughter's turn to learn. Here she is stitching her "I Spy" quilt, and showing off the first finished row.

9 comments:

It's such a shame that sewing and cooking are not taught in most schools. They are such basic skills and so useful in life. I am very cheered, though, by the revival of crafts, probably brought on by austerity budgets and the need to economise. Yesterday at John Lewis in Kingston, two ladies from Kingston were showing how to 'make do and mend' by turning collars, re-using old garments and putting on patches. Very interesting.

I didn't learn in school. My mother used to take me to fabric stores to buy things for crafts so I understood how they worked. I had sewn a few things like clothes but didn't really take it before I started quilting. I've let my stepdaughter try the machine a few times. She isn't very interested yet.

They didn't offer home ec. when I was in school either...and that was over 10 years ago. Sad, really...probably one of the most important classes that kids will actually use the rest of their lives.I did learn to sew through 4-H, but it's been years since I've sewn!

I learned in school but I am fairly certain that my daughter will not. I plan on getting her set up and learning this summer on my old machine. She is excited about it as well, which makes me very happy :)

It is so true. I was blown away at QuiltCon listening to Mary's lecture. She is right, though. Home Ec was offered when I was in high school between 1997 and 2001, but it was an elective and there were other classes I needed to take. If I didn't have a sewing mom, I wouldn't have had an "in" to the sewing world. Well done sharing the sewing love :-) Thanks for stopping by WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced!

I was teached by my grandma when I was 5 years old and now I (42) can basic sew and crochet, it is not only enjoying time but the possibility to solve a easy incidence or improve any piece of clothing.In Spain, this subject (sew, cook,... home things) are not teached at school and I know this is a big defect.But now, I am trying to transmit "that" to my children (6 and 8) because they see that I enjoy doing handmade and they valorate them. Thanks for this post, its nice to thing about!

I could not agree with you more! My mom's Home Ec teacher taught her how to sew and she taught me. I am confident I would not have just picked it up on my own without her instruction. I am trying to carve out time to teach my daughter. We are starting a link up party on Thursdays (today:), and we would love for you to join us with this post and/or any others you would like to include. We are at allthingswithpurpose.com. Hope to see you there!!

Momma and I didn't have patience for her to teach me the very basics, so I learned the very basics from earning my Girl Scout badge -- I sorry to say I don't remember who the instructor was. But once I learned how to cut out a pattern, Momma was able to teach me more advanced stuff and then I learned in school. I was lucky. My school was big enough to offer advanced sewing classes -- I think I took 4 years of classes from 1/2 year intro class, the full year class that was required to get into the advanced classes and 2 1/2 years of advanced classes. Now I'm passing sewing -- at least quilting along to 12 year old former student. She made two quilts and is now working on her 3rd. After she finishes this quilt, I'm going to see if she wants to learn to sew clothes. I can't decide if I want her to want this or not.